Lip brush holder with manual release and gravity drop



D. GORDON Aprrifl l, 1952 LIP, BRUSH HOLDER WITH MANUAL RELEASE AND GRAVITY DROP Filed Dec. '50, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 INVENTOR.

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April 1, 1952 D. GORDON 2,591,537

LIP BRUSH HOLDER WITH MANUAL RELEASE AND GRAVITY DROP Filed Dec. 50, 1946 SHEETS-SHEET 2 5! 53 'I- 51 50 f r/"a- INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 1, 1952 Don:Grd0n, Burbank, 0alif., assignor to E. ManuelStolaroif, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December30, 1946; Serial No." 719- 296- Claims.

specifically forlip brushes, it is also contemplated that it might be usedto contain any other: tool which 'might be carried in: a' hand bag or pocket,

suchasscrew driver's; knives} fountain: pens, and Accordingly;- theexpression" lip brush holder is':- not to be takenas restricted solely to? that one implement, but" instead, includes. othertoo'ls and devices such as those mentioned above;

One of the principal objects of the: invention is't'o' providea retractablelip' brush holder which is convenient and easy to use; and which can: be manipulated with one hand.

Another object of the invention is 1 to provide:

a retractable lip brush holder which is simple" and inexpensive to manufacture and whichis, at the sametimercompact and attractivein appearance.

A further object of the invention is to-provide a holder" of I theclass described in-which the lipbrush carrier is moved 'by'gravity between extended and retracted positions; thereby doing away'with the usual spiral slots, sliding buttons,

and other devices which have heretofore been utilized to effect extension or retraction of the lip brush;

Still another object of the-invention is to providera lip brush holder in which the brush carrier released and permitted-to move=out to extended position orto--retract back intothe casing by: merely'depressing a-button in the end of theholder;

The-foregoing; objects=are achieved in the present invention by'providing, a hollow casing Which is open atone end, and:a lip brush carrier which is freely slidable within said casing between a retracted position wholly contained within the casing, and: an. extended position wherein thebrush is projectedthr-ough the open: end of the casing;

A: closure is provided for: the open end of the casing which may, as in-the preferred form shown, comprise two or more opposed spring strips held atone: end by the casing. The free ends of the spring strips are bent inwardly: toward one an-- other and terminate in-lips which are-normally closed together: above the'brushr Asleeve member which is.- slidably disposed: within the: casing;-

2 is engage'able at one end-with the free end poritionsof-ithe spring strips'to spread thelatter and permit'the brush carrier to drop out by gravity to=extended positiona or toretract by gravity back into. the casing;

The above and otherobjects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the' following detailed description of the preferred embodiment' thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings'in which:

Figure l is a longitudinal'mediansection taken through alip brush holder: embodying the principles' of the invention, showing the brushre-- tra-c't'ed;

Figure 2 is a plan view of theopen: end of the holder;

Figure: 3 is ase'ctional view through the holder taken: at 90 to thes'ection oi'Figure 1;

Figure 4': isavi'ew showing the brush in extendedpositiom' Figure 5" is an enlarged sectional View taken along the *line 55"in Figure 1;

Figure: Bis a perspective view drawn to enlarged scale of one'of the closure spring strips;

Figure-7 is-a sectional view of another embodime'nt of-theinve'ntion';

Figure-8 is: an end view of the same; and

Figure 9isa perspective View of one the spring segments forming theclosure for the open end ofthecasin'g;

The=preferred form' ofthe invention illustrated in Figures. 1 tot; inclusive, comprisesa generally cylindrical casing 10' of either metal or'plastic, having a central bore l'l' extending. through one endthereof; At its bottom or open end, the casing: 50 is reduced in diameter to form; a necked-down portion l2 which receives a tubular end piece' I3 having a rounded outer end I l slotted'transversely'at l5. Slidably disposed within the bore' H is a" sleeve I6 having a plug 20 inserted'into the top-end thereof. A button 2| projects axially.- from the top end of the plug 26 and extends through a bore 22in the end of'the casing;

the'purposeiof which'willappear presently. Be-;

bottom end'thereof to form a shoulder at 26.

Formedtin the stern 25'and spaced downwardly from the: shou1der'26 is-an annular groove 21,

low the groove 21, the stem is reduced in diameter to form a stud 28 which receives the top end of a sheet metal ferrule 3|! holding the hairs 3| of a brush. At its bottom end, the sleeve I6 is cut away at opposite sides, leaving two laterally spaced, axially projecting lugs 32 which extend down into the slot I5 in the end of the casing. The lugs 32 are made somewhat thicker than the cylindrical wall portion of the sleeve I6, forming an internal shoulder 33 which is engageable by the shoulder 26 when the carrier is moved out to the extended position shown in Figure 4, to limit the outward movement of the carrier and prevent the latter from dropping entirely out of the casing.

Closure means are provided for the open end of the casing comprising in the preferred form, a pair of opposed spring strips 35 having straight portions 36 which are arranged parallel to the axis of the casing. Near their ends, the straight portions 36 of the spring strips are pierced by holes 31 which are adapted to receive bosses 38 projecting radially outward from the neckeddown portion I2 on opposite sides thereof. Two diametrically opposed, axially extending grooves 39 are broached or otherwise formed in the inside surface of the tubular member I3, and the straight portions 36 of the spring strips are confined within the space between the bottoms of the grooves and the neck I2, being anchored in place by the bosses 38. The outer end portions of the spring strip 35 are disposed within the slot I5 in the casing and are bowed in toward one another at 4B, terminating in rolled lips 4! which are normally closed together, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The bottom of the slot I5 terminates just above the beginning of the bowed portion 40, so that the side walls of the member I3 provide solid backing for the spring strips 35. Hence, when the strips are bent back, the bending takes place in the bowed portion 40 just below the end of the member I3. The bottom edge of the member I3 is rounded off at 42 so as to provide a gradual radius of bend for the strips.

The bottom ends of the lugs 32 are engageable with the under sides of the bowed portions 40 of the spring strips 35 when the sleeve I6 is pressed downwardly, to spread the lips 4| apart, thereby permitting the lip brush carrier 23 to drop out to extended position by gravity when the casing is held with the open end down. The carrier is stopped in its downward travel by engagement of the shoulder 26 on the carrier with shoulder 33 on the inside of the sleeve. When the button 2| is released, the spring strips 35 close together, seating the lips 4| in the annular groove 21 in the stem 25. To this end, the distance from the shoulder 26 to the top edge of the groove 21 is made substantially the same as the length of the lugs 32 so that the groove is positioned just below the ends of the lugs when the carrier is extended, and therefore exposed to engagement by the lips 4|. The engagement of the spring strips with the groove 21 holds the brush carrier out in extended position and prevents it from dropping back into the casing when the holder is turned so that the open end is up.

To retract the carrier back into the casing, the holder is held so that the open end is up, and the button 2 i is then pressed inwardly, causing the lugs 32 on the sleeve I6 to lift the spring strips out of the groove 21 and permit the carrier to drop by gravity back into the casing. The button is then released and the spring strips 35 close together. Alternatively, the carrier may be retracted by holding the casing with the brush end up and then tapping or pressing the button against a table top or other object.

In the second embodiment of the invention, illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 9, the open end of the casing is closed by a dome-shaped rosette comprising a plurality of spring segments 5| arranged in a circle and having their outer ends bent inwardly so as to converge on the axis of the casing. Each of the spring segments 5| is preferably formed of steel strip and is provided with a straight portion 52 which is curved cylindrically so as to fit against the neck I2, and an outer end portion 53. The end portion 53 is flat and generally triangular in shape, and is bent inwardly toward the center of the casing, terminating in a tip 54 which is bent to lie in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the casing. The spring segments 5| are assembled on the neck I2 with their tip ends converging on the axis of the holder, and are clamped to the neck by a circular band 55 which is slipped down over the straight portions 52 of the assembled segments. The inside diameter of the band 55 is made to provide a snug fit over the spring segments 5|, and the height or length of the band is substantially the same as the length of the straight portions 52.

The rosette 50 is opened to permit the brush carrier 23 to move out to extended position by bending the end portions 53 of all of the spring segments outwardly, and sleeve I6 is therefore not cut away on opposite sides, as in the preceding embodiment, but instead is left cylindrical to the end. Thus, when the button 2| is pressed inwardly, the opposite end of the sleeve l6 engages the end portions 53 of the spring segments, bending them outwardly and spreading the tip ends 54 apart as shown in dot-dash lines in Figure 7 to permit the brush carrier to drop out by gravity to extended position. When the button 2| is released, the ends 54 seat in the groove 21 to lock the carrier in place. The lip brush carrier may then be released and permitted to drop back into the casing by again depressing the button 2|; which causes the sleeve I6 to bend the spring segments 5| outwardly until the ends 54 be made to fit tightly on the neck I2 so that the band 55 might be dispensed with. In another alternative form, the rosette 50 might be blanked out of fiat sheet metal stock to form a strip having a saw-toothed contour along one edge thereof. The points of the strip would then be bent to the desired angle in a forming operation, and the strip then bent or rolled to cylindrical shape to fit over the neck I2. A tightly fitting band such as the one designated at 55 in Figure '7 would be inserted over the rolled strip to hold the latter on the neck I2.

Among the advantages of my improved lip brush holder are its simplicity, compactness and ease of operation. When the brush is retractedinto the casing, the holder may be carried in a hand bag without fear of soiling the contents thereof and without picking up dirt, lint, or particles of tobacco on the brush hairs.

While I have shown and described in detail what I consider to be the preferred forms of my avenues invention, it is to beunderstoodi that-the em' bodiment's shownaremereiy'illiistrative .and 'thatvarious changesv may be madewithout departing from the scope of the broad claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1 A holder-- for" lip brushes and the like com'-' prising a hollow casing open atone end, a carri'er slidably disposed within said casing for" movement' between a retracted position wholly contained'within the casing and an extended posi tion wherein'one endof the carrier projects from theopen end -of' the casing, closure means for said open end of' thecasin'gcomprising a pair of opposed spring strips, eachof'said'stripsbeingheld at one end bysaidcasing; and the=free" ends of said strips being movable between anormally closed position incontact with one another and a flexed openpositionwherein-said ends are elastically bent apart, and means-in for said open end of the casing comprising a pair of laterally spaced; opposed spring strips, each or said stripsbeing formed with astraight portion disposed parallel-- to' the? axis of" said casing and an inwardly bent outer end portion terminating in a lip, said lips being normally contiguous to close said open end of the casing, and said straight portions of the strips being confined by the casing, and means independent of said carrier engageable with the outer end portions of said spring strips for spreading the same apart to permit said carrier to drop out to extended position.

3. A holder for lip brushes and the like comprising a casing formed with a cylindrical bore extending through one end thereof, a sleeve member slidably disposed within said bore, a carrier slidable within said sleeve member and movable between an enclosed position wholly contained within the casing and an extended position wherein one end of the carrier projects from the open end of the casing, closure means for said open end of the casing comprising a pair of laterally spaced, opposed spring strips arranged parallel to the axis of said casing on the outside of said sleeve member, the outer ends of said strips being bent inwardly and terminating in lips which are normally contiguous to close the open end of said bore, said outer end portions of the strips being engageable by the end of said sleeve member to spread said lips and thereby permit said carrier to move out to extended position, and manually operable means for moving said sleeve member within said casing to engage said strips.

4. A holder for lip brushes and the like comprising a casing formed with a cylindrical bore extending through one end thereof, a sleeve member slidably disposed within said bore, a carrier slidable within said sleeve member and movable between an enclosed position wholly contained within the casing and an extended position wherein one end of the carrier projects from the open end of the casing, said carrier having an annular groove formed therein, closure means for said" open end of" the casing comprising a pair of laterally spaced, opposed: spring strips arranged parallel. to the axis; of:

said casing on the: outside of said sleeve member, the' outer ends-ofsaid strips being bentiimwardl'y and terminating in lips which are. normall'y'contiguous': toclose the open end of said. bore; said-lips -being adapted to seat within the annular groove in said carrier to lock-l the latter in extended position, said outer end portions of the strips being engageable by the end of said. sleevememberto spread said lips so as to open said bore to permit-said carrier tom'ove o'utito extended position, or to liftlsaid lips-1 out ofLsa'id:

annular" groove to permit said carrier to" return toi enclos'ed position, and-means for. moving said sleeve member within said casingto engage said strips.

5'. A holder for lipi brushes and. the like comprising. a'casingformed'with a cylindrical bore extending through: one end thereof, a. sleevemem'ber slidably-disposed within said bore, a car riersslidable withinisaid' sleeve member and movable: between an enclosed position Wholly con- =tained within the casing andan extended positionwherein' one end of the carrierprojeotslfrom the. open end of the casing, closure means for said open'end-of the casing comprising a pairof laterally spaced; opposed-spring strips arranged parallel to the axisof said casingoii theoutside of said sleeve member, the outer ends of said stripssbeing-Lbent inwardly and having lips which are normally contiguous to close the: open end of: said.'bore;- said outer end p'ortions of the strips being en'gag-eable by one endof said sleevemem ber to spread said lips and thereby permit said carrier to move out to extended position, and a push button fixed to the other end of said sleeve member and projecting axially through the end of said casing opposite said closure means, whereby said closure means may be opened by pressing on said push button.

6. A holder for lip brushes or the like comprising a hollow casing open at one end, a carrier slidably disposed within said casing for movement between a retracted position wholly contained within the casing and an extended position wherein the carrier projects from the open end thereof, closure means for said open end of the casing comprising a plurality of spring elements arranged around the periphery of the casing and extending inwardly so that their tip ends converge centrally and form a closure in the normal uniiexed position of said elements, and manually operated means independent of said carrier for elastically bending said spring elements outwardly to permit said carrier to drop out to extended position.

'7. A holder for lip brushes or the like comprising a hollow casing open at one end, a carrier slidably disposed within said casing for movement between a retracted position wholly contained within the casing and an extended position wherein the carrier projects from the open end thereof, a closure for said open end of the casing comprising a plurality of spring elements arranged around the periphery of the easing and having pointed end portions converging inwardly to the axis of the casing, and a sleeve slidably disposed within said casing and engageable with the inside surface of said spring elements for elastically bending the latter outwardly, thereby permitting said carrier to move out to extended position.

8. A holder for lip brushes or the like comprising a hollow casing open at one end, a carrier disposed within said sleeve and movable between a retracted position wholly contained within the casing and an extended position wherein the carrier projects from the open end thereof, a plurality of spring segments arranged around the outside of said casing at the open end thereof, each of said spring segments being formed with a straight portion disposed to lie against the outside surface of said casing and an end portion extending inwardly toward the axis of the easing, a band embracing the straight portions of said segments to clamp the latter to the casing, and means independent of said carrier for engaging the end portions of said segments and elastically bending the same outwardly whereby said carrier is permitted to move out to extended position.

9. A holder for lip brushes or the like comprising a cylindrical casinghaving a central bore extending through one end thereof, a sleeve slidable axially Within said bore, a carrier disposed within said sleeve and movable between a retracted position wholly contained within the easing and an extended position wherein the carrier projects from the open end thereof, a plurality of spring segments arranged around the periphery of said casing at the open end thereof, each of said spring segments being formed with a straight portion curved cylindrically to lie against the outside surface of said casing and a triangularly shaped end portion bent inwardly so that its apex lies on the axis of the casing, and a band embracing the straight portions of said segments to clamp the latter to the casing, said sleeve being engageable with the under side of said end portions of the spring segments to elastically bend the same outwardly whereby said carrier is permitted to move out to extended position.

10. A holder for lip brushes and the like comprising a hollow casing open at one end, a carrier slidably disposed Within said casing for movement between a retracted position Wholly contained within the casing and an extended position wherein one end of the carrier projects from the open end of the casing, closure means for said open end of the casing comprising a plurality of opposed flexible spring strips, each having a shank confined by and fixedly secured to the casing and an inwardly bent outer end portion, said outer end portions converging toward one another to form a closure for the open end of the casing when in their normal positions, and means independent of said carrier engageable with the outer end portions of said spring strips for bending the same apart to permit said carrier to drop out to extended position.

DON GORDON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,216,433 Gaisman Feb, 20, 1917 1,824,029 Most Sept. 22, 1931 2,055,414 Lehman Sept. 22, 1936 2,373,711 Satz Apr. 14, 1945 

